The Progressive Conservative government reached out to landowners in the area with the third of 10 open houses held by Premier Alison Redford's property rights task force on Tuesday afternoon.
Around 70 people attended the open house at the St. Paul Seniors Centre, which broke into four groups led by consultants and backed by an MLA or minister. The consultants collected feedback and advice on property rights concerns in Alberta.
“It is a little different. It's a way that everybody's voices get a chance to be heard," said task force chair Diana McQueen, minister of Environment and Water, while in St. Paul. Breaking into working groups gives everybody who attends the opportunity to be in a smaller group to talk about their concerns, ideas and solutions, said McQueen.
Catrin Owen with Calder Bateman Communications brought the groups together and summarized the findings. Concerns included legislation affecting property rights, subsurface liability, central planning and the concentration of power, she said.
“You raised the issue of compensation over and over again," she said. “You said there is a fundamental unfairness in the loss of compensation … You talked about the fact that property owner rights have been eroded over the last few years, but the responsibilities have in fact increased."
The task forced started in Grimshaw and Grande Prairie on Monday, and traveled to Westlock for Tuesday night. The tour will round out the week in Olds and Rocky Mountain House on Wednesday. Activities resume on Jan. 16 with stops in Brooks, Hanna, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.
The task force aimed to hold open houses across the province and reach areas where government has heard about property rights issues, McQueen said.
“We will report back everything we heard," she said. “We're really glad people are coming out and are engaged. It's good for us."
The task force will report and make recommendations to premier and caucus Jan. 31.
For full story, see the Journal on Tuesday.
